Qaboos bin Said al Said became the sultan of Oman after overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur, in a palace coup in July of 1970. In his first year in power in Oman, Qaboos abolished slavery and established an absolute monarchy, and at 77 years old, Qaboos is the longest-serving Arab leader. He has not publicly named an heir, and he has no children, though the public believes the top contenders to succeed him are his late uncle's three sons.